Andeew eakkin



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW RANKIN, OF PHILADEPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANACLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,745, dated February 20, 1866.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. RANKIN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements iu Manacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in constructing a manacle of two portions, which are hinged together, one of the said portions being straight and the other curved, so that when the two portions are locked together they cannot be forced apart, as fully described hereinafter; and my invention further consists in so constructing one ot' the portions as to allow for the ready introduction of the finger ofthe attendant between the wrist and the manacle when the latter has to be opened.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the construction ofthe same.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specitcation, Figure l is side view, partly in section, ot a pair ot' my improved lnanacles; and Fig. 2 a side view showing a manacle of a forni now used.

A and A are the two rings of a pair of manncles, which are connected by the swivel B, and each ot' which is composed ot' two pieces ot metal, C and G,jointed together at the point z. The portion C is curved, and the portion C is straight except at a point, D, near its outer end, where it is slightly bent or curved, for a purpose described hereinafter. At the outer end of the portion C is an enlargement, E, in which is an opening. adapted for the reception of devices by means of which a projection, a, on the portion C is locked within the said opening. As these devices constitute no portion of myinvention, any particular description ot the same will be unnecessary.

It has been found that when manacles ot' the form shown in Fig. 2 are used the prisoner is enabled lto release himself by resting the manacle at the point V against a solid substance and striking the portion C at the point Y', this curved portion being thereby straightened sufficiently to break the projection a. In order to obviate this diiiiculty, I have made the portion C straight in the rst instance, as already shown and described, this straight portion fitting close to the wrist, so that it cannot be bent inward without causing` such injury and pain tothe prisoner as will induce him to desist in his attempt to break the same.

As there should be sufficient space between the wrist and the portion C to allow for the introduction of the finger of the attendant when the lnanacle has to be opened, this is obtained without increasing the size of the manacle by bending the portion C at the point D, as already described.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A manacle composed of the portions C and U', constructed and combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The piece Cf, curved or bent at the point D and combined with the portion C, as described.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW RANKIN. 

